A medical aspirant died by suicide at a hostel in Rajasthan today. The student was preparing for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test or NEET medical exam at a coaching centre in Sikar.
Kaushal Kumar, from Raisana village, was taking classes at Allen coaching institute in Karauli district – a well-known institute for competitive exams with branches across the country.
Last month, two students died by suicide on the same day in Kota. Avishkar Shubhangi jumped from the sixth floor of the coaching institute after taking a test. In the evening, another student, Adarsh, died by hanging.
A spate of NEET-related suicides has been reported in the state over the past few years, especially from Kota, which is known as Rajasthan’s coaching hub. Many blame the pressure of studies and the fear of failure among students.
Kota coaching hubs are now roping in wardens, mess workers and tiffin service providers to look for any signs of depression or stress among the students staying in hostels and PG accommodation. The district administration in the city recently directed the coaching institutes to stop conducting routine tests for students preparing for NEET and other competitive exams for the next two months in the wake of the latest suicides.
Lakhs of students come to the state every year to prepare for engineering and medical entrance exams.
Amid the rising suicide cases among students in Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot recently formed a committee that would submit a report on such cases.
